Aerosol valve, valve actuator therefor and aerosol dispensing nozzle



Nov. l0, 1959 B. EDWARDS 2,912,173

AEROSOL VALVE. VALVE ACTUATOR THEREFOR AND AEROSOL DISPENSING NOZZLE Filed March 4 1957 Y im United States Patent O AEROSOL VALVE, VALVE ACTUATOR THERE- FOR AND AEROSOL msPENslNG NozzLE Bryant Edwards, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 4, 1957, Serial No. 643,656 7 claims'. (Grassi- 471) readily assembled with eachother and which are constructed so as to insure the prevention of improper leakage through the valve structure.

A more'specic object of the present invention is to provide a novel dispensing valve structure including a plurality of parts which may be readily molded from a suitable resilient plastic material and which are constructed so as to include various integral resilient ele'- ments which serve normally to maintain the valve in a closed condition.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention 'I will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a pressure dispensing container of the type contemplated herein;v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 2 2 in Fig. 1 and shows va dispensing valve structure incorporating the features of thepresent invention; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but shows the manner in which the parts may be shifted to open the valve;

Fig. 4 is across sectional view taken along line 4 4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken along line 5 5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 'along line 6 6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing al slightly modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 but showing another embodiment vof the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the Various gures, a pressurized dispensing container 10 is shown in Fig. l, which container includes a dispensing valve structure 12 incorporating features of the present invention. A tube 14 is'connected to and depends fromwthe dispensing valve structure so that when the valve structure is open in the manner described below, the contents of the container will be forced upwardly through the tube and then through the discharge valve lby the pressure within the container as will be understood.

--Referring particularly to Figs.` 2 and 3, it is seen that of the laterally projecting portions 46.

2,912,173 Patented Nov. 10, 1959 the dispensing valve structure 12 comprises a cup-shaped member 16 adapted to be mounted in an aperture in a top section 18 ofthe container. The upper margin ofthe cup-shaped member 16 terminates in a radially outwardly projecting ilange 20 which is provided for the purpose described below. 'Ihe bottom of the cup-shaped member is provided with a central aperture or passageway 22 therethrough and is integrally joined to a short tube section 24. The tube section 24 is adapted to be joined as with a force t to the depending tube 14. A member 26 is disposed within the cup-shaped member and is provided with an annular transversely disposed body portion 28 havinga peripheral flange 30 overlying the flange 20 and having a central passageway 32 therethrough. A central sleeve portion 34 is integral with and depends from the body portion 28 and is formed with a downwardly and outwardly flaringinternal wall 36 so asl to provide a valve seat 38 adjacent its lower free end. A plurality of resilient nger elements 40 is provided for yieldably re'- taining a ball Valve member 42 against the valve seat 38. Each of the linger elements 40 comprises an axially eX- tending shank portion 44 extending downwardly from the body portion 28 along and radially outwardly from the sleeve portion 34 and beyond the lower end of the sleeve portion. Adjacent the lower end of each of the shank portions 44 there is provided a laterally inwardly projecting ball valve retaining portion 46 having a generally upwardly facing and inwardly and downwardly inclined cam surface 48. When the ball valve is manually depressed in the manner described below, it acts against the cam surfaces 48 of the finger elements so that the finger elements are caused to ilex outwardly to permit the ball to be shifted downwardly from the Valve seat as shown in Fig. 3. It will be appreciated that when the manual pressure is removed, the resilient finger elements return toward their normal positions and force the ball member against ythe valve seat. Each of the projecting portions 46 of the finger elements also has a generally downwardly facing and upwardly and'inwardly inclined cam ysurface 50. These cam surfaces facilitate spreadingof the vlinger elements during initialpassembly of the ball valve, which assembly isfaccomplished by placing the ball valveagainst the surfacesvStl and pressing' the ball valve until it -is snapped through the: restricted throatI provided by the generally opposing tips A valve actuating and sealing member 52 is provided with atubular portion 54-havinga central axially eX-- tending passageway 56 therethrough, which tubular portion has aV lower end section .58 adapted to extend i through the passageway 32 in the membern26 and to engage the ball valve member 42.v A notch 60 is formed in the lower edge of the tubular section 58 to permit` the ilow of lluid into the passageway 56 when the valve member is opened. The member 52-is also provided with` a resilient diaphragm portion62 integrally joinedl to` an intermediate area of the tubular portion 54. The fdiaphragm portion has a-sul'stantially Hat Aannular ymarginal portion 66 adapted to seat against the ange portion 30 of the member 26. AA cylindrical flange section,n 68 extends axially from the section 6,6 and terminates inan annular inwardly projecting shoulder 70 which is adapted to be snapped beneath the flange 20 of the cup-shaped member. Thus, Vit is seen that-the ilanges 20 and'30 are clamped between the sections 66 and 70 of the diaphragm portion so that the various members are retained in assembled relationship and so that a seal is provided bietween the diaphragm portion and the anges20 and3ll;

v forming an'annular portion 7,2 of the container top v18 beneath vandabove the flange means provided by the 3 anges 20, 30, 66, 68 and 70 in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The valve structure is completed by a dispensing cap member 74 which is assembled on an upwardly extending section of the tubular portion 54 `of the actuating member. The cap member has a solid upper end or head portion 76 and a central sleeve portion 78 which receives the upper end of the tubular portion 54 with a t such that there is a fluid tight seal between the parts. This may be accomplished by providing a force lit betweenlthe parts throughout the portions thereof which are in engagement, and/or by forming an annular rib 80 on the tubular portion 54, which rib will embed itself'n the sleeve portion 78 when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2. An annular skirt portion 81 depends from the head portion 76, the lower margin of which provides a stop for engaging the diaphragm portion and limiting downward movementof the actuating member so as to minimize any possibility of the ball valve being depressed too far and snapped beneath the projecting portions 46 of the finger portions 40.

It is important to note that the dispensing cap member is provided with swirl chamber means for causing fluid being dispensed to swirl in a manner which promotes the discharge of a liquid spray wherein the size of the liquid particles is quite small. For example, the Valve structure may be constructed for creating a spray wherein the particle size is on the order of 20 microns or less, such a spray being commonly known as a space spray. The device may also be adapted for providing coarser sprays, if desired. As shown in Figs. v2, 5 and 6, the swirl chamber means comprises an arcuate recess or passageway 82 in the end wall of the cap'member head portion 76 which abuts the upper end Vof the tubular actuating member portion 54. The recess or passageway 82 is relatively narrow in a direction extending axially of the axis of the tubular portion 54, and the recess extends generally horizontally or at right angles to said axis. As shown in Fig. 5, the horizontal cross section of the recess progressively decreases from an end 84 of the recess to an opposite end 86, and the upper end of the tubular portion 54 closes a considerable portion of one side of the recess so that fluid will enter the recess 82 adjacent its end 84 and flowvin l,an arcuate path toward the end 86. The end 86 of the recess opens into an upstanding chamber 88 whichv is sullciently narrow so that its lower end is closed by the tubular portion 54. Fluid is finally discharged from the chamber 88 through a laterally extending small discharge orifice 90. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, thenarrow end of the recess 82 opens into the recess or chamber 88 adjacent its lower end and in the direction of the major width of the chamber 88 so that a swirling motion is applied to the uid flowing through' the chamber or recess 82 and further swirling motion is imparted to the uid as it enters the bottom end of the chamber 88 and ows upwardly and is directed by the curved upper end of this chamber. Preferably, the discharge orifice 90 opens into an enlarged recess 92 in the side of the cap member, which recess serves as a shield to prevent the spray from contacting the operator.

Fig. 7 shows a slightly modied form of the present invention which is similar to the above described structure as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix a added to corresponding elements. This embodiment differs in that the cupshaped member 16a is provided with a plurality of integral upwardly extending projections94 around the passageway 22a. These projections extend beneath the linger portions 40a and are adapted to limit positively downward movement of the ball valve member so as to insure retention `of the ball valve in operative relationship with the resilient lingers. v

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the structures described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suflix b added to corresponding elements. This embodiment differs in that the resilient lingers for retaining the ball valve member are omitted from the member 26b and are replaced by linger elements 96 provided by a split tubular section integral with and extending upwardly from the bottom of the cup-shaped member 16b. The diameter of this tubular section is similar to that of the depending tubular section 24h and is smaller than the diameter of the ball valve member so that the valve member is normally retained against the valve seat. Y

It will be appreciated that the various members of all of the embodiments described above are formed so that they may be readily and economically molded from a suitable plastic material such as nylon, which is inherently resilient so as to provide the above mentioned inger elements and diaphragms with sulTicient resiliency for urging the ball valve members against the valve seats. The ball valve member may be formed from various suitable materials such as plastic, metal, rubber and .the like. It will be further appreciated that while the preferred embodiments of the present invention-have been shown and described herein, various structural changes may be made without departing from the vspirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the anges 20, 30 and 66 of the members 16, 26 and 52 could be adhesively secured together so that the depending ange 68 could be eliminated, if desired, and it is understood that the other embodiments might be similarly modied.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A dispensing valve for pressure containers and the like comprising a one-piece resilient plastic cup-shaped memberV having an opening therethrough and including an outwardly extending peripheral flange, a one-piece resilient plastic body member traversing an upper end of said cup-shaped member and having a central passageway therethrough and including a peripheral ange overlying said rst mentioned ange, integral axially depending thin wall resilient tube means on said body member providing a downwardly facing resilient valve seat encircling the central passageway, a valve element shiftably disposed against said valve seat, a plurality of resilient fingermeans integral with and extending generally axially from one of said members and engaging said valve element and yieldably retaining the valve element against said valve seat, a tubular actuating member extending through said central passageway and depressible for shifting said valve element from said valve seat, a resilient diaphragm joined to said actuating member and having a peripheral liange overlying said first mentioned ange, and means interconnecting said anges, said diaphragm normally maintaining said actuating member in a raised position.

2. A dispensing valve structure, as defined in claim l, wherein said finger means are integral with and depend from said body member and include lateral projections engaging beneath said valve element, and wherein said cup-shaped member includes projection means extending upwardly from a bottom thereof for limiting downward movement of the valve element when the actuating member is depressed.

3. A dispensing valve, as defined in claim l, wherein said finger means are integral with and extend upwardly from a bottom of said cup-shaped member for engaging beneath said valve element.

4. A dispensing valve structure for pressure containers.

and the like comprising plastic body means adapted to be connected to a container and having an axially extending passageway opening at an outer end thereof, said body means including an integral relatively thin wall resilient axially extending tubular section defining a portion of said passageway, said tubular section including a downwardly and outwardly daring internal surface at its lower end providing a valve seat having different maximum and minimum diameters, a valve member having an annular portion with a diameter between said maximum and minimum diameters shiftably disposed against said seat, an actuating member extending into said passageway and being depressible for shifting said valve member from said valve seat, said actuating member having an axially extending discharge passageway therethrough communicating with said first mentioned passageway, and a flexible plastic diaphragm joined to said actuating member and to a peripheral portion of said outer end for preventing leakage around said actuating member and for resiliently urging the actuating member to a raised position.

5. A dispensing valve structure for pressure containers and the like comprising means adapted to be connected to a container top and including a generally cup-shaped plastic member having a bottom with opening defining means for connection with depending conduit means, a plastic body member having an axially extending passageway therethrough opening at an outer end thereof, said body member being disposed within said cup-shaped member, said body member including an axially depending resilient tubular section defining a portion of said passageway and providing a generally downwardly facing yieldable valve seat, a valve element shiftably disposed against said valve seat, one of said members including integral resilient spring elements retaining said valve element for engagement with said valve seat, a plastic actuating member extending into said passageway and depressible for shifting said valve element from said valve seat, said actuating member having an axially extending bore therethrough communicating with said passageway, and a resilient plastic diaphragm integrally joined to said actuating member and connected to a peripheral portion of said outer end for preventing leakage around said actuating member and for resiliently biasing said actuating member outwardly after it has been depressed forv shifting the valve member. v

6. A dispensing valve structure, as defined in claim 5, which includes a one-piece plastic cap member mounted and sealed on an outer end of said actuating member, said cap member including a central bore receiving said actuating member and partially defined by a transverse end Wall abutting an outer terminal end of the actuating member, said cap member including means delining an internal swirl chamber which is relatively narrow in one direction and relatively wide in another direction and which has one end intersecting said wall and closed by said terminal end of the actuating member, said cap member including means delining a restricted discharge orifice communicating with said swirl chamber at a location substantially offset from said wall, and said cap member including arcuate recess means in said wall, which arcuate recess means has a relatively wide end partially communicating with said bore through said actuating member and a relatively narrow end covered by the terminal end of the actuating member and communicating with a narrower side of said swirl chamber.

7. A dispensing valve structure for pressure containers and the like comprising valve means adapted to be connected to a container and including an actuating member having a discharge bore therethrough and adapted to be manipulated for opening the valve means and permitting material to discharge from the container through said bore, and a cap member secured on an outer end portion of said actuating member and including a second bore snugly receiving said actuating member and partially defined by a transverse end wall, an outer terminal end of said actuating member abutting said wall, said cap member including means defining a swirl chamber which has an end intersecting said wall and closed by said terminal end Vof the actuating member and which is relatively narrow in one direction and relatively wide in another direction and elongated in another direction extending perpendicularly to said wall, said cap member including means defining a restricted discharge orifice communicating with. said swirl chamber at a location offset from said wall along said last mentioned direction, member including means defining an elongated and arcuate recess in said wall and extending generally parallel to said terminal end of the actuating member, said arcuate recess having a relatively wide end only partially communicating with said bore in the actuating member and an opposite relatively narrow end covered by said terminal end of the actuating member and communicating with a narrow side of said swirl chamber.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ablanalp Dec. 31, 1957 and said cap 

